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    • SNF Site Characterization Validation

    Metadata Updated: January 15, 2026

    This data set documentation is currently in work. In the interim, an abstract of the entire Superior National Forest (SNF) data collection activity from which the SNF Site Characterization Validation Data Set is a product is being provided. During the summers of 1983 and 1984, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) conducted an intensive experiment in a portion of the Superior National Forest (SNF) near Ely, Minnesota, USA. The purpose of the experiment was to investigate the ability of remote sensing to provide estimates of biophysical properties of ecosystems, such as leaf area index (LAI), biomass and net primary productivity (NPP). The study area covered a 50 x 50 km area centered at approximately 48 degrees North latitude and 92 degrees West longitude in northeastern Minnesota at the southern edge of the North American boreal forest. The SNF is mostly covered by boreal forest. Boreal forests were chosen for this project because of their relative taxonomic simplicity, their great extent, and their potential sensitivity to climatic change. Satellite, aircraft, helicopter and ground observations were obtained for the study area. These data comprise a unique dataset for the investigation of the relationships between the radiometric and biophysical properties of vegetated canopies. This is perhaps the most complete dataset of its type ever collected over a forested region. A key goal of the experiment was to use the aircraft measurements to scale up to satellite observations for the remote sensing of biophysical parameters.

    Access & Use Information

    Public: This dataset is intended for public access and use. License: No license information was provided. If this work was prepared by an officer or employee of the United States government as part of that person's official duties it is considered a U.S. Government Work.

    Downloads & Resources

    Dates

    Metadata Created Date April 11, 2025
    Metadata Updated Date January 15, 2026

    Metadata Source

    Harvested from NASA Data.json

    Other Data Resources

    Additional Metadata

    Resource Type Dataset
    Metadata Created Date April 11, 2025
    Metadata Updated Date January 15, 2026
    Publisher ORNL_DAAC
    Maintainer
    Identifier 10.3334/ORNLDAAC/188
    Data Last Modified 2026-01-13
    Category Earth Science
    Public Access Level public
    Bureau Code 026:00
    Metadata Context https://project-open-data.cio.gov/v1.1/schema/catalog.jsonld
    Schema Version https://project-open-data.cio.gov/v1.1/schema
    Catalog Describedby https://project-open-data.cio.gov/v1.1/schema/catalog.json
    Harvest Object Id 0d369546-86a4-475b-a3db-60759aa1f92c
    Harvest Source Id 58f92550-7a01-4f00-b1b2-8dc953bd598f
    Harvest Source Title NASA Data.json
    Homepage URL https://search.earthdata.nasa.gov/search?q=SNF_SITE_86_188&ac=true
    Old Spatial {"WestBoundingCoordinate":-92.5058,"NorthBoundingCoordinate":48.1697,"EastBoundingCoordinate":-91.7658,"SouthBoundingCoordinate":47.6575},"CARTESIAN"
    Program Code 026:000
    Source Datajson Identifier True
    Source Hash 0084638a3040159c43f9597934c6c3976964dfed5c9dfe0a234b5757ed820ab8
    Source Schema Version 1.1
    Spatial
    Temporal 1984-05-10/1984-05-10

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